How to Prepare For Your Cardiac Imaging Exam

For Cardiac CT Exams

General Cardiac CT Instructions:

Please consult your physician if you are allergic to iodine, have a history of allergies or asthma.

  • Coronary Calcium Scan:

     This exam does not require that you be given contrast.

     Do not eat or drink 12 ours prior to exam with the exception of non-caloric liquids such as black coffee, diet soft drinks, plain water and tea.

  • Other Cardiac CT's (Angiography):

     You will be given contrast for your exam.

     Do not eat or drink four hours prior to exam with the exception of plain water.

For Nuclear Cardiology Exams

SPECT: Exercise or Pharmacologic Myocardial Perfusion Study:

  • Exam time: three to four hours

  • Consult your physician about going off beta blockers for 48 hours and calcium channel blockers for 24 hours before the test.

  • Consult your physician before discontinuing ANY medication (especially if diabetic).

  • Do not eat or drink three hours prior to your exam.

  • Do not eat or drink caffeine products (i.e. chocolate, sodas, teas, coffee, or Anacin/Excedron) 24 hours prior to exam. Please note: Decaffeinated products contain caffeine.

  • Please wear a comfortable two-piece outfit and walking shoes.

  • Please bring all of your medications with you.

  • If you are not going to eat immediately after your exam, do not take your diabetic medications. Again, please check with your physician.

Cardiac PET:

  • Myocardial Viability (FDG)

     Please note that there are two types of Cardiac PET scans (for "perfusion" and for "viability") and that they have different preparations. If you are unsure of which you are getting, please contact your physician.

    Exam time: approximately three to four hours.

    Do not eat or drink three hours prior to your exam.

    If you are on oral medication for diabetes, do not eat or drink after midnight, but continue your oral diabetic medication.

    If you have insulin-dependent diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes, adhere to your normal dietary and insulin schedule.

  • Myocardial Perfusion (Rubidium scan)

     Please note that there are two types of Cardiac PET scans (for "perfusion" and for "viability") and that they have different preparations. If you are unsure of which you are getting, please contact your physician.

    Exam time: approximately three to four hours

    Consult your physician about going off beta blockers for 48 hours and calcium channel blockers for 24 hours before the test.

    Consult your physician before discontinuing ANY medication (especially if diabetic).

    Do not eat or drink three hours prior to your exam.

    Do not eat or drink caffeine products (i.e. chocolate, sodas, teas, coffee, or Anacin/Excedron) 24 hours prior to exam. Please note: Decaffeinated products contain caffeine.

    Please wear a comfortable two-piece outfit and walking shoes.

    Please bring all of your medications with you.

    If you are not going to eat immediately after your exam, do not take your diabetic medications. Again, please check with your physician.

For Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Exams

  • Cardiac MR Stress Test (Adenosine):

     Exam time: approximately three to four hours

    Consult your physician about going off beta blockers for 48 hours and calcium channel blockers for 24 hours before the test.

    Consult your physician before discontinuing ANY medication (especially if diabetic).

    Do not eat or drink three hours prior to your exam.

    Do not eat or drink caffeine products (i.e. chocolate, sodas, teas, coffee, or Anacin/Excedron) 24 hours prior to exam. Please note: Decaffeinated products contain caffeine.

    Please wear a comfortable two-piece outfit and walking shoes.

    Please bring all of your medications with you.

    If you are not going to eat immediately after your exam, do not take your diabetic medications. Again, please check with your physician.

    Also, see below for general MR guidelines.

  • All Cardiac MR exams:

     Cardiac MRI is safe with joint replacements, coronary stents, ASD/PFO closure devices, sternal wires and most prosthetic heard valves.

    Patients with a history of metallic implants / shrapnel / prior neurosurgical clip placement are all individually evaluated prior to MRI.

     Exclusions: We cannot perform MRI on patients with pacemakers, defibrillators or other implanted electronic devices.